[Sport] Benzema does not accept surrender

[#Steeven.™]

Karim Benzema has been determined to keep Madrid in the fight. After a very weak hour of game, played at the rhythm of a summer tournament, the entry of Koos and Modric plus the finishing criteria of the Frenchman avoided a damage similar to those of Cádiz or Alavés. In other words, recidivism against the most modest teams. Elche went ahead taking advantage of the white defensive laziness with a goal from Dani Calvo, but the final stretch was very long.

Madrid won, yes. In any case, it is not advisable to ignore the arbitration of Figueroa Vázquez and Soto Grado in the VAR. There was a clamorous penalty to Ramos and another similar to Carillo, both with 0-0. Only they will know what they interpreted, and if they told it they would help us understand it. At least they spread controversies.

The extreme suffering shows how fair Madrid is. So much so that he cannot manage efforts, even if he tried to start. It was impossible not to think about the Champions League, and the rival invited not to rush out. Zidane experimented with three centers by putting Ramos, with the injury still tender, seeking to project Mendy and Lucas as lanes. In addition, he reserved his midfielders with the most kilometers, Modric and Kroos, who are usually blamed for the game adapting to his leisurely pace. Well, with Valverde and Isco the pace was desperate in the first half. Only the outbursts of Vinícius, at the top next to Benzema, put nerve to the duel.

There was some occasion, of course. By quality, by insistence and by inertia. In addition, Elche lost Barragán through injury and pulled Cifuentes to cover the side. He has more body than Vinícius, but less speed. Just before the substitution, with Barragán already touched, Valverde looked for Vini who prevailed on the side, served Benzema and the Frenchman, with his left foot, did not specify the shot. It was the first clear choice after an empty half hour. Elche also gave a scare, without exaggerating, because he has nothing left over. A couple of excellent centers from Mojica were able to generate much more, especially on a faulty control by Lucas Boyé. If he hit it, he was left alone.

The arreón at the edge of the break, with a couple of options for Casemiro, and Valverde closer to the area, underlined what was needed to resolve the duel: intensity. So back in the dressing room, Madrid raised a point to box the rival. An exquisite control of Benzema, solved with a shot to the side of the net. It was the prologue of the move. First Ramos fell in the area, rudely grabbed by Marcone, and the referee whistled a foul in favor of Elche. Either he saw another fault that the others did not see or it is inexplicable. The collegiate thing and the VAR thing.

As in the next play, after a monumental save from Courtois, Mendy gave back and Ramos dropped Carrillo. He cashed out of the game ... which was not. Varane canceled it. It was reviewed in the VAR, like all other actions. Keep going In the agitation, Elche threw himself up, forced a corner and Dani Calvo connected an imposing header, winning the action to Varane, very soft.

 

Decisive changes
It was not the goal that caused the changes, planned in advance, but Zidane pulled on the classics to solve the fault. Kroos seized the ball and began to distribute judiciously, while Modric lowered himself in front. Rodrygo also entered, more precise than in the derby. In a corner from the right, the German served short for the Croatian, who tempered the far post and Benzema headed comfortably to goal. Tie, with more than a quarter of an hour ahead.

Fran Escribá changed the drawing to discuss possession, Mfulu and Josan to green. Hazard also entered for Vini, to add minutes and speed up the attack. The quality of the Belgian expanded the repertoire, but the usual one came to the rescue. When the game was already over the regulation time, Rodrygo returned a ball to Benzema with his chest on the edge of the area and the Frenchman, with his left, volleyed crossed, violently, to the net. A cruel outcome for Elche, but deserved by Madrid's last half hour. Karim doesn't give up.